Aim: The effects of certain uropathogenic microorganisms (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) on human sperm motility characteristics were studied in vitro.
Methods: In 10 healthy fertile men, ejaculates were aseptically obtained by masturbation and with a swim-up technique, a sperm suspension of high motility and purity was obtained. Several uropathogenic bacteria were obtained from outpatients with genitourinary tract infections. The sperm suspension was incubated with the pathogens at a bacteria: sperm ratio of 50:1 at 37deg. The sperm mobility parameters were estimated with a computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) provided with a multiple-exposure photography system (Madi Corp., Zhejiang, China). Measurements were carried out at 0, 2 and 4 hours of incubation.
Results: Staphylococcus aureus significantly decreased the sperm motility and viability, but Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae did not.
Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus has an inhibitory effect on human sperm motility in vitro.